Bottom line is dancers have got a ballet cheek...

The name MiddleSex Gorge hinted at the fact Scottish Ballet’s latest production would get a bit racy.

But Edinburgh theatre-goers are being warned before buying tickets for the dance company’s new show that they will see bare bums.

A health warning-style note on the Festival Theatre’s programmes somewhat sternly warns them the show "features exposed male buttocks".

The show is a bold step away from pirouettes and twirling tutus by Scottish Ballet’s new artistic director Ashley Page.

Created by American choreographer Stephen Petronio, MiddleSex Gorge is a sexy show, performed to pulsating rock music.

The 23-minute long dance is part of the mixed programme being presented by the troupe at the Festival Theatre in April.

It features three female dancers in leotards, who perform a "sinuous dance" which is central to the performance.

But the part of the show which theatre staff feared would leave some of its traditional audience spluttering into their gin and tonics was the seven male dancers, whose costumes leave their bare bum cheeks on show. Wearing costumes of "corsets, jockstraps and sometimes flowers", the male dancers perform fast, aggressive steps, with high kicks, pelvis thrusting and grappling of their dance partners.

The music is an extended remix of a song by 80s electro-rockers Wire.

The management at the Festival Theatre said they felt they had to put a warning on the show - despite the fact it has been seen by more than 4000 people on its tour across Scotland.

A theatre spokeswoman said: "It means that if anyone is likely to be offended by this they will not book tickets.

"We have a responsibility to our patrons to inform them of anything such as nudity or swearing which is featured in a performance. That is why we have put this in our brochure.

"I do not think we will have any complaints as sales for this show have been very high and the ballet have had no problems in the past."

The show is one of several brought to the national dance company by its new artistic director, who was appointed in 2002 to transform and revitalise the failing company.

MiddleSex Gorge is one of the most modern pieces which Mr Page believes will take the company forward on an "exciting new adventure".

Reviews of the performances have so far been positive. Over the last 12 months, leading teachers in both classical and modern techniques have also been invited to coach the company’s dancers. A spokeswoman for Scottish Ballet said that the show had been a hit with audiences, adding that the dancers had no problems with the costumes, and were quite prepared to bare all for their art.

She said: "More than 4000 people have seen it on tour, but we have had no complaints about the content of the show.

"It is a modern, vibrant piece of ballet, with original choreography by Petronio. Ashley Page was called in to revitalise the ballet, and he has done a remarkable job." The ballet company denied suggestions it may have deliberately chosen to introduce a hint of sex in a bid to attract a new and younger audience.

"I don’t think this piece was deliberately chosen with a wider audience in mind simply because of its content," said the spokeswoman.

But theatre industry professionals suggested the fact the theatre was alerting patrons to the nudity was likely to draw in people who wouldn’t normally go to the ballet.

Ellen Kent, of Ballet and Opera International, said the presence of Ukranian strippers in her version of Rigoletto - performed to packed crowds at the Edinburgh Playhouse last November - was a big selling point for the show.

She said: "I always try to put things like that in my shows because I think it can bring in a less traditional audience and open up the experience to more people.

"I’m sure Scottish Ballet will find they get some people coming along to this who might not have otherwise."